VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN S 2.0 TDI vs CHEVROLET CAPTIVA LT 2.0 VCDi

 

 

My intention was to compare every popular ‘fun & fashion’ SUV. I will in time. For now I’ve made comparisons with the best selling Toyota Rav4, Honda CRV, Freelander and now VW Tiguan. I’m now losing the will to live.

 

I’m not really finding really big differences. There are no revelations. I suppose that’s right because the vehicle with the most advantageous difference would outsell every other SUV.

 

The VW Tiguan is not significantly different from the Rav4, CRV, Freelander or Captiva. The Tiguan is different in that it just doesn’t look like a SUV. It looks more like an MPV. But the cars compared are more MPV than they are SUV. So we might say the VW looks more politically correct.

 

Let’s make some sort of summary.

 

Size: The Chevrolet Captiva is the largest of all the above vehicles with the most space for the same price so it’s the best value for money.

 

Style is a matter of personal taste. Here’s mine. The Rav4 is getting bland. The CRV misses the mark. The Tiguan doesn’t even look like a SUV. The Freelander is a perfect example of a classic slab side vehicle and looks classy. The Captiva is an exemplar of the sporty style.

 

Standing in the market is weird. Chevrolet is the best selling brand in history, ranking number 3 in the world today. In the UK Toyota, Honda and VW are well known with excellent reputations. None are a match for the Land Rover brand in the UK.

 

Inside these SUVs you’ll find little difference in comfort and convenience features. The Chevrolet probably has the most appropriate styled interior with quality tight-fitting materials.

 

Driving these SUVs demonstrates no real difference in performance in the hands of a real on-the-road driver. The Captiva is the most car-like to drive.

 

Economy figures reveal those SUVs with a 6^th gear get better mpg on a run. But can you get a free run on the M25, M3 M4, M1, or M6? Because I can’t get a free run on the M23.

 

If the above is too close to call it might remind us taking a test drive is all important and data like this on the internet might be more confusing than helpful.

 

Regards

Ralph

Maybe Prestige Does Sell Cars

Before we look at the Land Rover Freelander, in my two previous posts we compared the Toyota Rav4 and Honda CRV with the Chevrolet Captiva.

 

The Chevrolet Captiva is slightly bigger and more spacious than both the Rav4 and CRV making the Captiva better value for money if you want a big family car.

 

Both the Toyota Rav4 and Honda CRV have a sixth gear making them more economical on a run. Otherwise there doesn’t appear to be too much difference between the three cars.

 

The Toyota and Honda have the advantage of being well known brands in the UK. The Rav4 and CRV both have a good following and solid reputation. Chevrolet suffers from low awareness in the UK despite being the world’s third best selling brand.

 

However when we go onto my next car comparison with the Land Rover Freelander it seems reputation may not count so much. It’s not difficult to find a magazine warning of problems with Freelanders. But they’re still a best seller.

 

If you go to my comparison charts you can see there’s no real difference between the four cars. The Land Rover is too wide for UK roads and car parking spaces – in my opinion.

 

What makes the Land Rover sell despite its reputation is its prestigious brand. As an ex-Land Rover salesman friend of mine once said, “they just buy into the brand, they know what to expect and they accept it.”

 

Land Rover is a powerful brand and the more prestigious Discovery and Range Rover support the Freelander. It makes me wonder why Chevrolet doesn’t sell their famous Chevrolet Corvette in the same showroom as the Captiva.

 

Regards
Ralph

Car Comparison Chart 2 – Honda CRV vs Chevrolet Captiva

 

Even after only two car comparison charts it’s fairly clear cars of the same type and size are similar in almost all other respects. So if we take two SUVs – CRV and Captiva – that are the same size with similar engines then other aspects will be pretty much the same.

It’s difficult to understand where the real differences are and figure out why car buyers choose one car in preference to another.

A closer look at the Honda CRV and Chevrolet Captiva shows there is no real difference in interior space or comfort and convenience features. Engine performance is very similar and not different enough to make a real difference when in the hands of a real driver. The same goes for fuel economy/consumption.

You could say the CRV with its 6th gear is more economical on a run. The Captiva is slightly more spacious and versatile. But the differences are not huge. Not big enough to be a deciding factor.

So we are left with subjective aspects such as style, brand equity and prestige.

Personally I think the Captiva is a more handsome looking car both inside and out. It looks just like a SUV should look.

Honda is better known in the UK and they have a great reputation. People in the UK aren’t very aware of Chevrolet. Most wouldn’t know Chevrolet is the number one domestic brand in the USA. Chevrolet is also a best selling car in North America, South America, Eastern Europe, the Far East and China.

If you judge the Chevrolet Captiva against what it promises to be – a BIG family car – then it’s a winner.

Regards
Ralph
Compare the data at Honda Crv vs Chevrolet Captiva

Car Comparison Chart – Toyota Rav4 vs Chevrolet Captiva

I’ve compared the ubiquitous Rav4 with the little known Captiva.

As expected I found little difference. The Captiva is bigger than the Rav and has more interior space. Space is an advantage if you want a big family car. Having said that some people may prefer a more compact car with enough versatility when needs must.

Comparing interior features, performance and economy reveals no material difference. The figures are too close to make a real difference.

The Toyota does have a 6th gear making it more economical on the open road. You’d have thought GM could have found a 6-speed gearbox in the GM parts bin. Vauxhall have such a box.

Anyway, have a look for yourself. I’ve written a page about car comparisons similar to my previous post and a page about SUVs drawing on previous posts about the Chevrolet Captiva.

Please accept there may be errors and certainly omissions. You can always post comments to this blog or email me.

Regards
Ralph
See the data at Toyota RAV4 vs Chevrolet Captiva